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Governor Mary Fallin
file:///Y|/Newsletters/Governor's%20Columns/Governor%20Mary%20Fallin_120312.htm[2/14/2013 2:50:59 PM]
Home / News Room / Rejecting Federal Health Care Bill Right Thing for Oklahoma
Print Article
Governor's Columns
Monday, December 3, 2012
Rejecting Federal Health Care Bill Right Thing for Oklahoma
By Governor Mary Fallin
This past month, I announced Oklahoma would not implement two key components of President Obama’s health care law: the creation of a
health insurance exchange and the expansion of Medicaid. I’m writing this month to let you know why that decision is in the best interests of
Oklahoma taxpayers and families.
For several months, my staff and I have worked with other lawmakers, Oklahoma stakeholders and health care experts across the country to
determine the best course of action for Oklahoma in regards to both a possible health insurance exchange and the potential expansion of
Medicaid.
Our priority has been to ascertain what can be done to increase quality and access to health care, contain costs, and do so without placing
an undue burden on taxpayers or the state. As I have stated many times before, it is my firm belief that the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act (PPACA) fails to further these goals, and will in fact decrease the quality of health care across the United States while
contributing to the nation’s growing deficit crisis.
Despite my ongoing opposition to the federal health care law, however, the state of Oklahoma found itself legally obligated to either build an
exchange that is PPACA compliant and approved by the Obama Administration, or to default to an exchange run by the federal government.
This choice was forced on the people of Oklahoma by the Obama Administration in spite of the fact that voters have overwhelmingly
expressed their opposition to the federal health care law time and time again.
After careful consideration, I decided last month that Oklahoma would not pursue the creation of its own health insurance exchange. As I
said at the time, any exchange that is PPACA compliant will necessarily be ‘state-run’ in name only and would require Oklahoma resources,
staff and tax dollars to implement. It does not benefit Oklahoma taxpayers to actively support and fund a new government program that
would ultimately be under the control of the federal government and that is opposed by a clear majority of Oklahomans. Furthermore, the
creation of such an exchange would further the implementation of a law that threatens to erode both the quality of American health care and
the fiscal stability of the nation.
With regards to Medicaid, I also announced that Oklahoma would not be participating in the Obama Administration’s proposed expansion.
Such an expansion would have been unaffordable, costing the state of Oklahoma $475 million between now and 2020, with escalating
annual expenses in subsequent years. It would also have furthered Oklahoma’s reliance on federal money that may or may not have been
available in the future given the dire fiscal problems facing the federal government. On a state level, massive new costs associated with
Medicaid expansion would also have required cuts to important government priorities such as education and public safety. Finally, the
proposed Medicaid expansion offers no meaningful reform to a massive entitlement program already contributing to the out-of-control
spending of the federal government.
Moving forward, it is important for the state of Oklahoma to pursue two actions simultaneously. The first will be to continue support for
About Agenda Serve Oklahoma News and Media Links Contact the
Governor
Governor
MARY FALLIN
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Governor Mary Fallin
file:///Y|/Newsletters/Governor's%20Columns/Governor%20Mary%20Fallin_120312.htm[2/14/2013 2:50:59 PM]
Home / News Room / Rejecting Federal Health Care Bill Right Thing for Oklahoma
Print Article
Governor's Columns
Monday, December 3, 2012
Rejecting Federal Health Care Bill Right Thing for Oklahoma
By Governor Mary Fallin
This past month, I announced Oklahoma would not implement two key components of President Obama’s health care law: the creation of a
health insurance exchange and the expansion of Medicaid. I’m writing this month to let you know why that decision is in the best interests of
Oklahoma taxpayers and families.
For several months, my staff and I have worked with other lawmakers, Oklahoma stakeholders and health care experts across the country to
determine the best course of action for Oklahoma in regards to both a possible health insurance exchange and the potential expansion of
Medicaid.
Our priority has been to ascertain what can be done to increase quality and access to health care, contain costs, and do so without placing
an undue burden on taxpayers or the state. As I have stated many times before, it is my firm belief that the Patient Protection and
Affordable Care Act (PPACA) fails to further these goals, and will in fact decrease the quality of health care across the United States while
contributing to the nation’s growing deficit crisis.
Despite my ongoing opposition to the federal health care law, however, the state of Oklahoma found itself legally obligated to either build an
exchange that is PPACA compliant and approved by the Obama Administration, or to default to an exchange run by the federal government.
This choice was forced on the people of Oklahoma by the Obama Administration in spite of the fact that voters have overwhelmingly
expressed their opposition to the federal health care law time and time again.
After careful consideration, I decided last month that Oklahoma would not pursue the creation of its own health insurance exchange. As I
said at the time, any exchange that is PPACA compliant will necessarily be ‘state-run’ in name only and would require Oklahoma resources,
staff and tax dollars to implement. It does not benefit Oklahoma taxpayers to actively support and fund a new government program that
would ultimately be under the control of the federal government and that is opposed by a clear majority of Oklahomans. Furthermore, the
creation of such an exchange would further the implementation of a law that threatens to erode both the quality of American health care and
the fiscal stability of the nation.
With regards to Medicaid, I also announced that Oklahoma would not be participating in the Obama Administration’s proposed expansion.
Such an expansion would have been unaffordable, costing the state of Oklahoma $475 million between now and 2020, with escalating
annual expenses in subsequent years. It would also have furthered Oklahoma’s reliance on federal money that may or may not have been
available in the future given the dire fiscal problems facing the federal government. On a state level, massive new costs associated with
Medicaid expansion would also have required cuts to important government priorities such as education and public safety. Finally, the
proposed Medicaid expansion offers no meaningful reform to a massive entitlement program already contributing to the out-of-control
spending of the federal government.
Moving forward, it is important for the state of Oklahoma to pursue two actions simultaneously. The first will be to continue support for
About Agenda Serve Oklahoma News and Media Links Contact the
Governor
Governor
MARY FALLIN
Share | Print FAQs | Contact | Sign up for Email Updates | News | Site Map | Calendar | RSS Feeds